November 23, 2016

Highlighted Year: Billie Hayes, 1975

Cornerback, San
Antonio Wings

Age: 28

3rd
season in pro football, 2nd in WFL & 1st with Wings

College: San
Diego State

Height: 6’1”Weight: 181

Prelude:

Hayes transferred
from Riverside Junior College and received first-team All-Pacific Coast
Athletic Association honors as part of the San Diego State team that went 11-0
in 1969. He was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the
1970 NFL draft but failed to make the club. He also failed to catch on with the
Rams in ’71 and his only NFL experience came with the New Orleans Saints in
1972, where he was a backup and had no interceptions. Hayes signed with the
Florida Blazers of the WFL in 1974 and moved into the starting lineup,
intercepting six passes. His contract was purchased by the new San Antonio
club, which was the successor franchise to the Blazers.

1975 Season Summary

Appeared in all
13 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions
– 6 [1, tied with Leon Jenkins]

Int. return
yards – 115 [4]

Int. TDs – 0

Sacks – 0

Fumble
recoveries – 1

Tackles – 33

Assists – 19

Wings went 7-6
and were second in the WFL Western Division when the league folded. They led
the league in interceptions (27).

Aftermath:

The demise of
the WFL effectively marked the end of Hayes’ career. In his two WFL seasons, which
were his most significant as a pro, he intercepted 12 passes that he returned
for 220 yards.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories: